The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-06-10

The Stars rnd Stripes is familiar object;
everybody has seen and admired it, and no
wonder, for it is the haudsomest flag in the
world. Red, white and blue-those alter
nate red and white stripes in beautiful con-
trast with the blue field bedecked with
stars, as though piece of the sky had
been taken to add more beauty to our
national emblem, which makes it in truth,
"The Star Spangled Banner" Fifty mill.
ion people of this country hoL or, love, re-
we're and recognize this flag as the nation.
al ensign. The little child plays with it as
a toy and the strong man forsakes home
and family, and, if need be, lay down his
| life to protect its honor. Its mute elo-
quence needs no aid to interpret its signif-
canoe. Fidelity to the union blazes from
its stars, allegiance to the. government
| beneath which we live is wrapped in its
folds. Every nation has its symbolic en-
sign. Some haye beasts, birds fishes, OF
reptiles in their banners Our forefathers
chose the stars and stripes, the red telling
of the blood shed by them for their coun-
try; the blue Of the heavens and their pro-
lection, and the stars repres ent constella-
| ton of States The idea was taken from
the constellation Lyra, which signifies har-
mony. The blue of the field was taken
from the edges of the Covenanters' banner,
| significant of the league and covenant
| against oppression, involving the virtues OF
| vigilance, perseverance and justice. The
thirteen stripes and stars showed the num-
Der of the united colonies. The whole was
| a blending of the various flags previous to
| the Union flag--the red one of the army
and the white one of the floating batteries.
The red color denotes danger and defiance
and the white purity. The first flag, CON-
bining thirteen stars and thirteen stripes,
was made by Mrs. John Ross, in the small
two-story house still standing, at No. 939
Arch St, Philadelphia. General Washing
ton himself made the drawing, and, in
company OF committee Of Congress, call
ed upon Mrs. Ross and engaged her to
make the flag. The flag thus designed was
adopted by resolution of Congress, June
the 14th, 1777 In consequence of the ad-
mission of Vermont and Kentucky into the
Union, an act was passed, early in 1894,
increasing the stars and stripes from thir-
teen to fifteen. But Uncle Sans domain
increased, and, as new states came into the
Union, further changes became necessary.
Accordingly, on the 4th of April, 1918, an
act WAS passed entitled "An Act to Estab-
lish the Flag of the United States" by
which the number of stripes was again fix
ed at thirteen and the number of stars at
twenty, TO represent the number of states
then in the Union, with provision that
one star be added on the admission Of
every new state. By this regulation the
thirteen stripes represent the number OF the
States whose valor and resources origin
ally affected American Independence, and
the additional stars mark the increase OF
the states since the adoption OF the Con-
stituton. Under this law, the past sixty
nine years have Witnessed an increase in
the constellation of "Our Flag" from twenty
to thrty-eight stars, and its dominion has
extended until it now waves from the At
lantic to the Pacific, and from Behring's
Strait to the Gulf of Mexico, Its brilliancy
may be seen at every sea port on the Globe;
it has penetrated sixty miles farther into
the frozen regions of the Arctic ocean than
any other flag dared to ventures it fioated
from the masthead of the first steamer that
ever plowed the waves, and it was under
the shadow of its glorious folds that the
Atlantic Cable was laid, and America
brought within speaking distance of the
Old World. Is it any wonder, then, that
fifty million people bow at its shrine, that
strong men will lay down their lives in its
defence; that loving mothers will Offer
cherished sons as sacrifice for its protect
ion, or that the affectionate lover will tear
himself from the arms of his sweetheart to
rescue II from disgraceH
w. L. LuTz.